There are many new hotels in Cartagena. Since my last trip to Cartagena was in 2004, I asked a friend that travels there very often for good places to stay. He recommended the Aqua Hotel, Casablanca, and Cartagena de Indias hotel. I have never stayed in the walled City and maybe that is why I want everyone to stay there. I've visited the Santa Clara Hotel before and I am in love with this place. This hotel used to be a monastery in the 17th century. Even if you don't stay here, stop by to look at the gardens and the property. The Santa Teresa Hotel is also a City landmark where I would love to stay someday. This hotel was a built as a convent in the 17th century and it is a luxury hotel inside the walled City. The plaza outside the hotel is the carriage square where you can hire a carriage ride. I particularly rather do the carriage ride at night because of the heat. You have to negotiate the price. Ask in the hotel how much it should cost to avoid paying a higher price. If you are staying in Bocagrande, pay for the one-way ride to the old City. Go to the Santo Domingo Plaza and drink some cold red wine. The vallenato singers will be walking around offering to sing for a few bucks per song. Vallenato is the music that you will here all the time in Cartagena.
Most of the hotels in the Center are expensive. I started to look on tripadvisor but I saw a lot of them in the Getsemani neighborhood. I don't know if it is as safe as the real Centro. This is the neighborhood next to the center. I found a few good rates and I particularly liked the Alfiz Hotel (around $180 per night) located right next to Plaza Bolivar and the Inquisition Palace. The inquisition building is a must see while you visit Cartagena. They still have the original torture instruments. Another must see is the San Pedro Claver museum (Monastery and church).
The clock tower - entrance to the old City
San Pedro Claver
If you do a City tour, they will take you to the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas. You will also visit the Loma de la Popa, the famous hill with a convent. The tour is usually done in a Chiva (colorful open bus). Chivas are transformed at night from City tour bus to Party bus with a live vallenato group. They usually drop you off at a club. There is a nice lounge is located in the walls and have a drink, Cafe del Mar. I haven't been but I've seen many pictures of my friends here. It looks very nice. I've also heard of a restaurant called El Santisimo and I found it on tripadvisor. Colombians love to eat and drink. I am sure that you will find plenty of good places to try the local cuisine.
From the San Felipe de Barajas Fort
inside the fort
San Felipe de Barajas
Hotel Santa Teresa
Close to the Cathedral
If you still want to stay close to the beach, the best area is Bocagrande. The beach area is only a 5 minute taxi ride to the old City. The Almirante hotel and the Caribe Hotel are some of the nicest hotels around Bocagrande. There is one hotel that is on the lower price hotels but it was very nice. It was the hotel Da Pietro, I think is called San Pietro now. I stayed here in 2004 for around $80 including breakfast and 1 other meal. The owner of a travel agency recommended this small hotel. The owner of the hotel, at the time, was an Italian. The hotel was a few blocks from the beach and located next to one of my favorite restaurants: Crepes and waffles. There were a lot of European tourists staying here. If you want to spend the day at the beach try to find a spot across from the Caribe Hotel. The best part about this beach in Cartagena is the service from Senaira. Senaira has been making fruit salads at the beach for years. Rent a couple chairs and a tent to take a break from the sun and try to relax. You can also get lunch, drinks, massages and anything that you want. The annoying part is the large amount of sales people trying to sell you ANYTHING. Just ignore them and say no with your hand, if they find out that you are foreigner they will try harder to sell you anything. Please don't buy the sea food from the guys walking a bucket and don't fall for the "free" sample. They are never free and you can get food poisoning. I used to get cornrow braids when I was little and burn my scalp. It was part of the trip but the braiders are very persistent and don't give up asking until they see your head full of colorful beads.
El laguito is a few blocks from there and the only good thing is the Hilton Hotel. We used to stay in this area and rent an apartment with my family. We always walked towards the beach by the Caribe Hotel. El laguito didn't have any waves and we loved the other side of the beach.
Cartagena's Beach
Hotel Caribe in the back
Senaira and a fruit salad with condensed milk is the best part of the beach (2009)
Senaida in 1990
we all got cornrow braids in the 90's
Special thanks to my mother for the scanned pictures of the 1990's and the more recent digital pictures. I can't wait to go back to Cartagena with a decent camera.
No comments:
Post a Comment